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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > April > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USExpectations could bite Dogs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Athens — There are delusions and then there are SEC-fueled delusions, which are like delusions on steroids. These are the delusions that make the fall that much harder. These are the delusions that can drown a team before it ever plays Auburn or Florida or, in the case of Alabama, Louisiana-Monroe.
It’s April. It’s spring football. The real kickoff is in nearly five months. But the delusions in Athens began shortly after Georgia steamrolled Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl and finished No. 2 in the rankings.
Expectation levels? They passed absurd two blocks ago. What’s it going to be like in August?
Matthew Stafford rolled his eyes.
“It’s above and beyond,” he said when asked about the tidal wave-like buildup. “But I think we kind of like it. We realize we need to be pushed.”
It’s April. It’s spring football. The phony season kickoff, Saturday’s Red-Black game, drew 19,874 fans. Imagine if the weather wasn’t miserable. The school sold 11,000 advance tickets before cutting it off. Media coverage was at an all-time high. The game was televised by CSS and broadcast by three radio stations. The AJC even had five representatives in the press box, which is significant considering only box lunches were served.
“I’ve never seen anything quite like this,” said Vince Dooley said of the off-season buildup. “There was a great anticipation in 1980. But that wasn’t so much for the season as it was for Herschel [Walker].”
Georgia will play 12 regular-season games next season. Theoretically, it can play 14, with the SEC championship and a bowl game. It only seems like the team can go 37-0.
The Bulldogs should be very good next season. They have legitimate national-title hopes. But meteoric expectations — particularly in April — give coaches the willies.
Mark Richt dealt with this sort of thing often when he was an assistant at Florida State. “We were preseason No. 1 [in 1988],” he said. “Then we went to Miami and got beat 31-0, so we didn’t handle it very well.”
Richt certainly won’t have a problem when the Dogs begin next season with a high ranking (anywhere from No. 1 to No. 4). It’s more the months of brainwashing he’s concerned about.
“First of all, one of the many reasons why we’re ranked high, or we’re going to be ranked high, supposedly, is because of what last year’s team did,” Richt said after the spring game. “I just tell them: ‘That team is gone. Those leaders are gone. That chemistry is gone. You’ve got to start over. To this point, you guys haven’t really proven anything. You’ve got to earn the right to be considered a great football team.’ That’s what we’re in the process of doing. The one way we can do that is focus on the moment.”
Thus far, at least the school’s marketing wing is staying grounded. There were no “14-0” shirts in the bookstore. But the former coach said it would be easy for the players to get sucked in by the expectations.
“They’re human, and they’re young,” he said. “It’s hard for it not to affect them. So you do everything you can as a coach to keep them focused. It starts in spring practice. The problem is, you don’t know if what you’re saying to them is enough compared to what the alumni is saying to them, or what they’re reading.”
The extreme example of this happened in Tuscaloosa. Nick Saban’s arrival at Alabama led to 90,000 fans attending the spring game. Some had improbable BCS bowl projections. When the Tide won its first three games, some fans expected the team would be 8-0 going into the LSU game. Instead it lost at home to Georgia and nose-dived, going 4-6 the rest of the season, including the loss to Louisiana-Monroe.
You can already see the potential for disaster here. Some already are making bowl plans for Miami (home of next season’s BCS championship). Open with easy wins over Georgia Southern, Central Michigan and South Carolina and some will skip ahead several games in their mind to Florida week.
Beat the Gators and it will be, “How would we have done against Nebraska in ‘71?”
“There’s always a danger factor,” Stafford said, “when people talk about you being No. 1 or No. 2, but only if you treat it the wrong way.”
So far, the Dogs are 0-0. The trick is remembering that.
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By Danny
April 5, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this
first
By P Dawg
April 5, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
First
By raymond
April 5, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this
Spirits are high and the competition on next years schedule is just as high. Fla, LSU, Auburn, will all be very good and S.C., Tenn, Ala, and Arz St are very capable of beating the Dawgs. Not to mention Cent Michigan that gave Purdue all they wanted in last years bowl game. If we run this table and win the Nat Championship I will ask ” How would we do against the 1971 Cornhuskers.
By Law Dog
April 5, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this
Go Dawgs and good luck on the season to come!!!
By Cuz
April 5, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this
Them 71 Cornhuskers were overrated. Most of the team had never seen an International Harvester.
By Steve
April 5, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this
WOOF! WOOF! WOOF! :-)
By savannah dawg
April 5, 2008 7:49 PM | Link to this
I played for the 71 Cornhuskers. We would have gotten killed by the 2008 GEORGIA BULLDOGS!
By JimDawg
April 5, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this
Cuz, you were probably a gleam in your pa’s eye in 1971. I was there and they were outstanding…..
By OKGator
April 5, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this
I knew the 71 Cornhuskers…The 71 Cornhuskers were a friend of mine. You sir are no 71 Cornhusker.
By JimDawg
April 5, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this
Cuz, you were probably a gleam in your pa’s eye in 1971. I was there and the Huskers were outstanding…..
By JimDawg
April 5, 2008 8:05 PM | Link to this
I am a Bulldog at heart, but Husker teams and their fans are class folks from my personal experiences.
By Husker 1
April 5, 2008 8:15 PM | Link to this
You nad lickers will never come close to the tradition that we have in Lincoln. To compare the 2 is insult to college football fans everywhere. You have 1 title…… 1 and have wasted more talent than any school in the country. You will loose 3 games next year and you will remember what I told you.
By texasdawg
April 5, 2008 8:21 PM | Link to this
to Danny & PDawg
GAY
By nuetered-dawg
April 5, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this
UGA=monkey u
By DeanerDawg
April 5, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this
somebody is upset that nobody is talking about nebraska….P.S. we have 2 titles….
By DecaturDawg
April 5, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this
It is “lose” not loose…and “neuter” not nueter…sheesh….when you want to ridicule or bash on this blog, you might have more “credence” if you can actually spell.
You two are morons, not matter how you spell it.
By Kparks72
April 5, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this
UGA is set up to be a force for the next two years at least. Go Dawgs!
By Hunker
April 5, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
People who say first in blogs are the gayest people on the internet.
By DAWGFANINBAMA
April 5, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this
The comparison to last year at Bama is really reaching, Jeff. The second teamers on this squad are better than Bama was last year.
Having said that, if you listen to what these guys are saying to the media, I think they are embracing the pressure. With Moreno, Stafford, Allen, Owens, Ellerbe, Curran, and Momass leading this team, they will not be beaten because they believed their own press clippings. It will be because someone outplayed them on that particular day. This will probably be the most mature team (not experienced, but mature) that Richt has ever fielded.
By Husker 1
April 5, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this
DeanerDawg - You only have 1 title. 1 recognized Nat Champ deal with it. Jack wad
By zinoDawg
April 5, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this
Two or three deep at every position with solid players, and plenty of game breakers (Moreno, Stafford, Curran, Reshad, Asher, Geno,Ellerbee, King, MoMass)and we haven’t even had the pleasure of meeting Carlton Thomas and AJ Green yet. This is our year, 13-1 and National Champs!!Go Dawgs/24/7.
By hop
April 5, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this
jeff, it is only natural for the fans to feel they way they do.
the dawgs and usc finish the season as the hotest teams at the end of the year.18 out of 22 starters are coming back from a team that won by large margins with their last 3-4 games.
2008 is a new year and the players need to be focus and coach richt will make sure they will.
tennessee,auburn and maybe lsu will not be as good as 2007 so it logical to believe the dawgs have a chsnce to be a very special team in o8.
By hop
April 5, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
jeff, it is only natural for the fans to feel they way they do.
the dawgs and usc finish the season as the hotest teams at the end of the year.18 out of 22 starters are coming back from a team that won by large margins with their last 3-4 games.
2008 is a new year and the players need to be focus and coach richt will make sure they will.
tennessee,auburn and maybe lsu will not be as good as 2007 so it logical to believe the dawgs have a chsnce to be a very special team in o8.
By hop
April 5, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
jeff, it is only natural for the fans to feel they way they do.
the dawgs and usc finish the season as the hotest teams at the end of the year.18 out of 22 starters are coming back from a team that won by large margins with their last 3-4 games.
2008 is a new year and the players need to be focus and coach richt will make sure they will.
tennessee,auburn and maybe lsu will not be as good as 2007 so it logical to believe the dawgs have a chsnce to be a very special team in o8.
By Old Grad
April 5, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
I think it was the ‘72 Nebraska team that was beat by UCLA in their opening game. I was on campus in Lincoln the Monday after on business and it was like being at a wake.
By DawgCrap
April 5, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this
Wow. Excited fans, some with overinflated expectations for a pre-season Top 5 team. Stop the presses.
By Gene
April 5, 2008 10:57 PM | Link to this
A big problem with all of Richt’s teams at Georgia is, they begin to believe their own hype. Richt certainly fanned the hype during the bowl games and in January. This overconfidence has resulted in the whole team rolling over when things don’t go their way, like the with humiliating thrashings from UT,the bowl game with WVA, and the whipping by the anemic Gamecocks. When things melt down, and they will, Richt gets a bewildered look on his face. There is no doubt Georgia will have a good team, but when you believe you are entitled to the National Championship, and you lose one or two games, you can just hang it up. The bad sportsmanship of last year, the sideline dancing, and all of the jawing is going to come back and bite Richt right on the butt.
By Einstein
April 5, 2008 10:58 PM | Link to this
And please inform our readers who EXACTLY is fueling this absurdity, Mr. Schultz. For the uninformed, it’s you and your ILK, as usual. Don’t pass it off as anyone else!
By Pago Flyer
April 5, 2008 11:44 PM | Link to this
Less than 20,000, sad.
By PHIL
April 6, 2008 12:33 AM | Link to this
“You will loose 3 games next year and you will remember what I told you.”
Maybe so. Even probably. But if we played Nebraska, it sure as heck wouldn’t be to them!!!!!!!!LMAO.
And if out of state tuition at this school or any other was $25 like NE used to be, (to get around the scholarship limits) they wouldn’t have many titles either.
Nebraska is a “used to be.”
By McGarrett Five O
April 6, 2008 12:34 AM | Link to this
Well Jean, or Gene or whatever alias You are using now, We are on to You. I have notified the Atlanta FBI office and Your e-mail has been traced. Dano and I are on the way! You transexual, dope dealing, gun running, kiddie porn king! The next voice You hear will be Mine, saying, BOOK’EM DANO!!!!
By PVD
April 6, 2008 1:00 AM | Link to this
Hello Gene,
Just curious if you picked the NY Giants to play in the Super Bowl this past season?
Based on your above comments I would think that you didn’t.
Georgia didn’t deserve to be in the National Championship game last season, but they certainly deserved a chance to play for the NC. That chance would have been in a playoff game.
Losing builds character and good teams (and coaches) find ways to become better after losing.
That is what Georgia did last year, and were one of the best teams in the country by season’s end. Too bad as it would have been nice to at least have seen them play USC.
Also, I wouldn’t trade Richt for any other coach in the country. He’s a great example of a human being, and I don’t mind him being bewildered sometimes.
By heeldawg
April 6, 2008 1:02 AM | Link to this
Agree. Georgia fans (and I’m one of them)tend to get a bit caught up in the hype. Hopefully, the players won’t. They did against South Carolina last year and it cost them a shot at the MNC. But that’s why we play the games. Just look at what happened to UNC against Kansas on Saturday.
By OLDDAWG
April 6, 2008 1:08 AM | Link to this
Dont know what Ga will do this yr But I know they will be as good as most Neb teams.Never had to play anyone but okla andTexas .I would like to see them play in the SEC.If the dawgs go 12-0or 6-6 Go DAWGS
By Max Power
April 6, 2008 1:11 AM | Link to this
I love how Jeff “lectures” us about expectations when it is the AJC that is constantly berating us with “UGA possibly preseason #1”, etc. The UGA hype for 2008 is MOSTLY media driven. Most Georgia fans with half a brain know that navigating that schedule unscathed would be a minor miracle. I believe we’ll have the team to do it, but it will take a lot of luck as well.
By rick
April 6, 2008 1:39 AM | Link to this
cornhuskers my butt…i am from Texas, my wife from Nebraska, i went to Georgia, but even ask my wife about class, nebraskans are the rudest people you will ever meet. I remember the 71 team quite well, they were outstanding because they payed No one!! They could not then nor now compete in the SEC. The big 12 is a joke and remember i live in Texas. Go dawgs, this is the year!
By Big Bird
April 6, 2008 1:41 AM | Link to this
True that Jeff. And too many players are wearing the goofy “Manning” facemask…
By Noodle Arm Stafford
April 6, 2008 4:38 AM | Link to this
Don’t beleive UGA hype. They been playing that same broken record for 27 year and still counting. 8 minutes quarters??? yea Gomer those butt sniffers are a bunch of tough poodles.
By mpdent77
April 6, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
you guys gonna rush the endzone every time you score this year??? act like you’ve been there before please…
By uga grad '92
April 6, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
Schultz….. Your comments astound me….we as UGA fans have been dying to just be mentioned as contenders…..now we are, and everyone needs to slow down and take a breath?? Give me a break….LSU rode pre-season hype all the way to the NC, and I would argue that the HYPE helped them overcome 2 losses to get there…..we NEED the hype, because we will lose at least one game……
ALL YOU TECH FANS AND DAWG-HATERS NEED TO TAKE A GET-READY PILL…..07 and 08 ARE THE YEARS OF THE DAWGS!!!!
By Valdosta Dawg
April 6, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this
Husker 1 you sir are an idiot. You apparently only consider the National Title real if the AP recognizes it. There are in fact several agencies that crown champs, and in 1942 the majority of them tabbed UGA as champs, just not the AP. Of course in 1980 we carried them all. So we do have 2 National Titles, and if we wanted to be lame like tech we can lay claim to 3 others as well. We are also one of only 11 teams with over 700 wins total so I think we can be considered as worthy as Nebraska! SO sit out there in Bum&$%# Nebraska, put that in your corncobb pipe and smoke it. When was the last time y’all did crap in Nebraska anyway?
By Paddy
April 6, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
Enough with Nebraska…they are big and slow and have not beaten anyone in recent memory. If they did play in the SEC they would be somewhere in the middle of the pack every year.We don’t need another South Carolina or Ole Miss in this league
By Oh Good Grief
April 6, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
You have to remember that Schultz is the same guy that said Georgia was not a top 10 level team before the Auburn game last year. How’d that turn out for you big guy? This is a garbage column. The fans do not play the game Schultz. We can think whatever we want. I can tatoo 14-0 on each butt cheek today and it will not have one bit of impact on what happens on the field this year. The players play the games and the coaches coach the games. From what I can tell they are keeping everything in perspective. Specifically what meteoric expectations are you referring to? You’re dreaming stuff up pal.
I have a hard time figuring out what Georgia fans are being delusional about anyway. We return 17 starters from an 11-2 team that finished red hot at the end of the season. Expectations SHOULD be sky high and I see no need to apologize for it. Does this team have what it takes to win it all next year? YES. Will they? I have no idea. That’s why the play the games Schultz. Maybe you should take your own medicine and let things lay out before you say a team isn’t a top 10 level team. Hypocrite.
This is absolutely laughable column.
By RedNBlack
April 6, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
Schulz is a parody of a journalist that isn’t even worth reading anymore, fits in well (with few exceptions) down at the Urinal/Constipation, a parody of a Newspaper.
Husker1; this link sure looks like 2 Titles to me, how about you?
http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/divia/sec/georgia/nationalchamps.php
By Obnoxious Georgia Fan
April 6, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz….Am I the only person that fell asleep reading that column? Georgia is 0-0? And I thought I wasn’t making good use of my journalism degree. Wow.
Tune in next week for Schultz’s off beat and irreverent column on the color of the sky.
By bdhypes
April 6, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
Get real,”Puppy Dawgs”,you’ll lose to The Mighty Gators in JAX,then agaian to”insert name here”of a SEC pretenders,go to the Citrus Bowl and beat-up on an overmatched Big Ten squad.There you have it,ladies and gentlemen,your 2008 Georgia Puppy Dawgs!
By I-DOG
April 6, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
Husker 1.
There is a lot of tradition in Lincoln. Not all of it good… like their fans saying UGA will “loose” 3 games. I guess the N on your helmet really does stand for KNOWLEDGE.
Until 15 years ago, Nebraska had a tradition of playing 9 very weak teams on their schedule and then playing one or two good teams like OU. That way, if they won just one or two real games in a season they would play for the national title. If they lost one or both, they would still go to a good bowl. Check out their schedules in the 70’s and 80’s. It was a shameful tradition.
Didn’t Nebraska just give up 70 points in one game to Kansas. It is one thing to do that in hoops, but football?
By JimDawg
April 6, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
My dad could beat your dad makes about as much sense all all of this crapola about who could beat whom during a time that most of you jerks were not even alive.
All we need to do is support our Dawgs today and let the chips fall wherever….
By GSUEagles
April 6, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
There is a little team from Statesboro, GA that is loving all of the UGA hype. Appy beat Michigan, GSU beat Appy St last year. UGA, the Hatch Attack is coming for ya.
By AltamahaDawg
April 6, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
Pretty worthless topic.
By joey waddell
April 6, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
Shultz, your a weasel. Shut up and let us enjoy the hype. This is what makes college football what it is.
By lgwest
April 6, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
Like many of your other articles, I wonder how you ever got this job, I didn’t finish reading it. I’m reminded of a saying from Rev. Ike, “nothing from nothing equals nothing. You need find a day job.
By JBird
April 6, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
While Schultz may be right about high expectations for next year, he has to create contraversy by saying these expectations are something like being “delusional on steroids.” Get a grip, please. Some Ga. fans are delusional and their fantasies are being fed by pre-season polls that almost all pick UGA very high. However, there are a number of realists as well, as anyone reading the UGA blogs would know. There are some fans who are delusional about next year, but there are many who are excited and hopeful, but realizing all the hard work involved in making a great team. But this balanced view doesn’t sell readership.
By EverGator
April 6, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
Can’t wait for the dawgs to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated as the Numero Uno team to beat this season…that ought to really jinx things!
By drew
April 6, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
The dogs’s have a legitimate chance this year, but I suspect they will fall short, and it’s gonna be fun watching their fans meltdown when it happens.
Although I’m first and foremost a Tech fan, I pull for the dogs unless they’re playing Tech. Since my son’s going to be attending UGA next year (and he’s a rabid fan), and with a class coach like Richt, I’ve almost learned to like them a little.
I pulled for the dogs during their national championship run, but the only time I actually hated them were the year(s) immediately after their national championship. The truth is, it wasn’t the team I came to hate…it was their fans. I got so sick of the barking, whooping, chest-thumping, arrogant dogfanz that I couldn’t help but start hating them.
So I hope they do well…but I don’t think I want to see them win it all. Their fans would only make me hate them again.
By BuckheadBill
April 6, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
Hey Drew! Why didn’t your son go to GaTech?
By dawgnutz
April 6, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
funny how all these fans of UF, GT, Nebraska (wtf?) are on here trying to bad-mouth the dawgs….pathetic really…I’m sure you’re all so unconcerned about the dawgs next year. That’s why you’re reading articles about their spring-game online….lol
By dawgnutz
April 6, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
DREW….often times people resent others when they cant relate to somehting they like so much….you feel left out because you dont feel the same way….you should take the opportunity your son has given you to become a Dawg fan….you’ll feel much better for it. Being a Tech fan will only bring you more pain…
By jeff
April 6, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
UGA’s best win last year was over Florida, a team that finished 15th in most polls. If / when Stafford goes down, they’ll be using Joe Cox, who has yet to throw a collegiate pass. All the talent in the world won’t save the Dawgs if they have to rely on Cox.
By uga grad '92
April 6, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
**hey Jeff….
you are an idiot….Joe Cox WON the Colorado game for us 2 years ago, and he threw the winning TD….I’d call that a collegiate pass..**Bobo says he is confident Cox will be fine if he has to step in….in he meantime, all you haters get ready, Dawgs are the team to beat this year AND next….
By Martrez Milner
April 6, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
I seem to remember Joe Cox throwing me a pretty good pass against Colorado a few years ago. Check your facts cuz. And no jokes about my hands or else I’ll crawl out of this computer whup you!
By SOS
April 6, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
Mr. Schultz, are you saying that the South Carolina game is an easy win or if Georgia wins easily against South Carolina the delusions of grandeur will reach new heights?
I hope you’re not saying the latter…There haven’t been too many easy Georgia wins against South Carolina the last two decades and the Dawgs are a modest 11-7 against South Carolina since ‘88.
By Gamecock Henry
April 6, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
Oh just another dose of reality will hit the dawgs in Columbia this year after Carolina will make it two in a row. I was able to catch the dawgs on the cable and I wasnt impressed. They looked like a good Division II school at best. Didnt look all that big and athletic either. Better work real hard in the weight room this summer before you all can even start thinking to score a touchdown a the mighty GAMECOCKS! 16 - 12 !!!!!!
By handawg
April 6, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
read www.bighairyblawg.com for REAL Dawgs’ talk…from a REAL fan.
By handawg
April 6, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
Gamecocks are a .500 team again - NOT NEW NEWS. Every so often is not special, little lamecocks. No we won’t give you another win, and no you aint good enough to beat us unless we do…EVER!!!
By Pewtus Gortsler 65
April 6, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this
Gamecock Henry loves Vienna Sausage Jelly and he is forgiven for his delusional remarks!
By P Dawg
April 6, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
I feel sorry for c** fans. They get an occassional win against UGA and they feel REALLY ggod about their program. The cold truth is that they have a great coach and they still can’t get above mid SEC East level. Vanderbilt will beat the hell out of you guys this year and Georgia will embarass you in columbia. Be very glad that you played UGA early in the season last year while our young offensive line was gelling. This year it will be ugly! Can’t wait to see if you have the balls to get on a UGA blog after that c** henry.
By sec-fan
April 6, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this
teckies win one and its like new yrs.eve over there. be honest, who in hell wants to call their team the “cocks”
By sec-fan
April 6, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
teckies win one and its like new yrs.eve over there. be honest, who in hell wants to call their team the “cocks”
By Festus
April 6, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this
Them thare chikins just got whupt in basebawl and now its on to a aisse whuppin in footbawl. Youins beeter be reedy in Cooluumbiar.
By D'Marcus Jefferson..Kappa Alpha pledge
April 6, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this
All-SEC:
QB: Tim Tebow—MATT WHO???
RB: Knowshon Moreno—Also, the ONLY REASON that UGA is being considered for Nat’l Champions…MATT WHO???
By DaddyDawg
April 6, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this
An important part of winning a championship in anything is believing that you can win a championship. Thus, if the Bulldawgs expect to contend for a national championship this fall, then the Bulldawgs should begin to prepare both physically and MENTALLY for the task now, rather than wait until the heat of battle this fall. Better to get comfortable with the high expectations early, rather than to begin the season unprepared to compete mentally with the challenge of a national championship.
By Bobby T
April 6, 2008 6:54 PM | Link to this
Seventy second!!!
How lame is this “First” crap?
By Gamecock Henry
April 6, 2008 7:00 PM | Link to this
p dawg…. I’ll be on here 4 sure and Shultz is crazy if he thinks its gonna be an easy win for the dawgs! …. Pewtus - you need your head examined!
By P Dawg
April 6, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this
I’ll be thinking of you when UGA scores at will on your beloved cocks henry. It’s going to be fun after hearing all the junk you talk here on a UGA blog. LOSER!
By Gamecock Henry
April 6, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this
p dawg…. too bad you and others dont comprehend the hard facts in which I point out about the dawgs. Dawg fans like yourself talk junk about winning the NC . Uga is not there yet its fools gold for you people. Dawgs plays up thier opponets level and that includes the UABs, Vandys, Kentuckys , and dare I say my beloved Gamecocks. You dont put these teams away like you think you do. BTW UGA hasn’t score at will against the Gamecocks maybe only once since Richt has been there. That game was close until late in the 3rd Qtr. as I remember. So I’ll be here again just like last year listening to all of the excuses and the wait till next year cry. We will be healthy and ready to play the dawgs bank on it!
By george
April 6, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this
It will be early oct when the annual chants of we are a year away will begin once again from the IDIOTIC dawg nation.
By P Dawg
April 6, 2008 8:25 PM | Link to this
What bowl did you guys go to in 07’? That’s right, you didn’t even go to the Blockbuster bowl, did you? You guys need to pick a winner to cheer for. Maybe then you could have a blog of your own. You’re not worthy of any more time. The cocks suck and so do you wannabe’s.
By FL DAWG
April 6, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
Reality says take it one game at a time. The Dawgs have plenty of talent. I went to G-Day and thought we looked o.k. Not great, but we didn’t play the number 1’s all game either. The young guys still need a lot of work. Stafford looked good at times and then made a poor throw that could have been picked off. The bottom line is that UGA needs to continue and improve this off season. That takes individual commitment. Such commitment will turn out the leaders that are needed.
UGA has the potential to go undefeated and it is not a far fetched idea, but to so takes a lot of effort and focus. Hopefully, the Dawgs will have both.
By jed clampet
April 6, 2008 10:05 PM | Link to this
WELLLLL DOGIES NC.
By jed clampet
April 6, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this
WELLLLL DOGIES NC.
By warhorse
April 6, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this
Poodles who want to regain realistic expectations can watch four hours of ESPN Gameday coverage of Gators spring game Saturday. Check out team speed — and that does not include incoming RB who just ran 3rd fastest 100 meters in the world!
By Zeb McKluskey
April 6, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this
Henry and Warhorse, come on guys. Put the crack pipe down. Henry, are u really that delusional?? Warhorse, are u really that stupid?? Please don’t think Ga fans are foolish enough to jump on the NC bandwagon. That’s a helluva task. We can hope and pray, but don’t think we’ve marked it down in our memoires. Just take a chill pill people. Stop hatin’, enjoy YOUR team and leave us the hell alone!!!!
By dawgsrbarking
April 7, 2008 6:58 AM | Link to this
UGA didn’t get caught up in the hype against south carolina or tenn. there was no hype when we played those teams no resonable uga fan even thought a mnc was a remote possibility at that time. we had a completely reworked offensive line. we were extremely young on both sides of the ball. There is a lot of hype for this years team but with talent like we are putting on the field expectations should be high. But i think anyone who looks at our schedule understands that evry week is a challange and a mnc is something earned and not given.
By AltamahaDawg
April 7, 2008 7:27 AM | Link to this
Drew, so basicaly you can’t wait for your son’s utter disapointment? nice.
By FLA DAWG
April 7, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this
The Dawgs haven’t even taken a snap in regular season yet and Schultz is comparing them to Bama when they lost to La Monroe!?
By tigerzbaby
April 7, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
FLA DAWG - I think he was comparing the hype swallowed by Bama fans that apparently went to their heads, not the talent of the teams last year. UGA is a contender, Bama is not. But don’t say that to a Bama fan !!!!
By GAGRAD05
April 7, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
FL DAWG, you went to the G-Day game and thought we looked o.k.? Did you see the same game? I thought we looked great and that was without some of our starters. Most of the time it was the backups who were playing. Even Coach Richt liked the way we looked. I am very excited about this team and I don’t think it’s delusional to think about a
By Gamecock Henry
April 7, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
gagrad05……I think Fla Dawg wasnt looking through them rose colored glasses. I watched the dawgs on cable and wasn’t impressed Like I said before the dawgs looked like a good division II school at best. BTW Dawgsbarking….. Gamecocks were a young team as well and we held the dawgs without a touchdown in the mighty sanford stadium. Kinda ironic our last win in sanford we held the mighty pups without a TD!!!!! 14 - 9 We sure didnt hear the young excuses when yall beat okla state!
By shane #1
April 7, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
Zeb, what was it You told Me about arguing with stupid people? It’s funny howw We let ourselves get sucked in isn’t it?
By TWILB Dawg
April 7, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
To the South Carolina fans:
Before you talk smack take a look at your bright football history for one moment. What exactly has your program won, other than 50% of its games, an ACC Championship (IN 1969), and a couple of Outback Bowls!
Even Spurrier realizes that the program has been a joke up until now, and that it still has not arrived (see 6-6 record last year).
Yes, you beat the Dawgs last year…it is bound to happen every now and then. UGA leads the series against USC 44-13-2, so you win once every 4 or 5 years, big deal!
FYI Gamecock Henry - Last years score was 16-12, at least get your facts straight.
GO DAWGS!!!
By Maryland Dawg
April 7, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this
I’m sure we all remember the 2004 NC talk. Let’s compare that team to this one. I think offensively this years team is heavier on talent, especially in the running back department(remember we started a true freshman at tailback). Yes Greene won and I have nothing negative to say about him, but Stafford could potentially equal his win total in the next two seasons. On defense I may give the slight edge to the 2004 team, but I feel this year’s defense will be hungry and CWM is starting to make me forget about Van Gordner. So all it comes down to is the schedule. We have the talent, lets hope the coaching staff can keep these young men focused. It will be tough, but it can be done. Also it’s not a bad thing to be in National Championship conversation every 4 years or so, but you Cocks wouldn’t about that anyway.
By D Dawg
April 7, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
Listen… I have said this before. Let’s wait til the season starts. Preseason ranking means nothing. I know it, you know it. I am pretty sure UGA players know it. We shall see how much better Fla, Tenn, SC, Bama, Aub and yes even Ga Southern is when we meet them on the field. Let’s play ‘em one game at a time. GO DAWGS!!!
By AltamahaDawg
April 7, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
Henry, why don’t you give us your take on SEC baseball so far this year. I know you learned the name of the field where SC plays, cause you went and looked it up a few months back. Let me guess, we better “watch out” for dem gamecocks next time?
You’ve seen UGA sweep SC this past weekend. Why dont you compare that to a Clemson team that swept SC a couple of years ago and give us your expert analysis of how we might match up if we played Clemson next year?
By Gamecock Henry
April 7, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
twilb dawg…. you need to get your facts straight uga leads 44 - 14 - 2. Since year 2000 dawgs lead is a mere 5 - 3. I’m encouraged it will tighten to 5 - 4 after the GAMECOCKS will be victorious in Columbia this September. Our guys didnt go to a bowl but they have hit the weight room and Spurrier has done an unbelievable job with the weight program at USC. I think you dawg fans will be surprised when you make the trip to Columbia and when you see how big and athletic the Gamecocks are now. The gamecocks are ready!!! Uga didnt look all that strong and impressive to me on the TV.GOOOOO GAMECOCKS!!!!!
By AltamahaDawg
April 7, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
Lifting weights in the offseason, gosh, why didn’t our coaches think of that!
By The 'Ole Ball Coach (aka The Evil "Genius")
April 7, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
You can have the ‘71 Cornhuskers, I’ll take the 1995 version anyday. Trust me, I know. I still see Lawrence Phillips running over my defense during the game, and robbing us at gunpoint in the locker room afterwards. And Tommy Frazier…how did we let him leave the state of Florida?
Sorry, I digress. Don’t blame a washed-up old ball coach for remembering the days when he was relevant.
By THWGT
April 7, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
HUSKER1 is a Techie in disguise.
By Zeb McKluskey
April 7, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
Shane, you’re right, sometimes I just can’t help myself. Hey Altamaha, I heard that they just went ahead and removed UGA’s weight room. Our guys are so small and spindly they figured we’d never recover. Gee Henry, I guess we better cancel the trip and just forfeit the game. You guys aren’t playin’ fair, noone mentioned lifting weights. I bet you guys even have a PRACTICE……we need to get to Columbia to see what other secrets you guys have. I also bet you’ve got a big white pad with a bunch of X’s and O’s on it. I’ve read about those….they’re really cool.
By tyoung44
April 7, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
Schultz,,,,good sensationalism….Had to have someting to write about …lol!
By Denver Dawg
April 7, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
We have many strengths, but our weaknesses are leave Dawg Nation plenty to be worried about. A new kicker, Stafford is no Leinart or Vince Young (quit getting your feelings hurt and GET REAL), our receiving corps is average, our defensive backs have been very suspect at times, AND Willie Martinez sucks.
Combine that with the threat of a vicious conference and overall schedule and the chances of winnging the NC aren’t any greater than about 10 other teams.
By Gamecock Henry
April 7, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this
Hey Zeb and Altmahadawg….. I’ve got another secret shhh …Uga aint gonna win the SEC and the MNC… its fools gold. Gamecocks and the ole ball coach will make it two in a row on the pups. You guys need to get that indoor practice field built in a hurry and new weight room as well so the dogs can be Legitimate Contenders and Keep Mr. Right from going back to Miami. Maybe then ole Mark May , Kirk H .and Lee C. will give the dawgs a little respect and politic for the Mutts to play for a NC.
By Gamecock Henry
April 7, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
Altamaha Dawg….. Your baseball team won this year - ok. Im not even gonna bring up and point out who has the best overall series record. Something dawg fans like yourself like to do. Thats history. b TwilbDawg……. I didnt make it clear about the score, It is Ironic that Gamecocks Last two win in Sanford Stadium Uga didnt score a TD 14 - 9 2001 and last years 16 - 12 score. Now thats history too! Cant wait to make more history in Columbia!!!!! GO GAMECOCKS!!!!!
By Gamecock Henry
April 7, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
BTW Altamaha dawg….. in case you didnt know it Clemson owns UGa in Baseball. But again, great win for the dawgs against the tigers last week.
By Friends of Paul Johnson
April 7, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this
The pups string of victories will come to an end when the Jackets invade Sanford Stadium in November and burst the big Bubble of a MNC!!!!! you dawgs wont be ale to Crank Dat Kno Mo!!!!
By AltamahaDawg
April 7, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
Seriously, do you really want to bring up recent scores in that series?
By FL DAWG
April 7, 2008 7:24 PM | Link to this
Gamecock Henry, UGA looked O.K. against itself, I think you are going to disappointed this year as UGA will beat USC. USC does not have a clear QB as of yet and with SOS they probably will not have a clear QB until he retires in a few more years. That will cause USC offense to sputter. USC does have a heck of D returning, problem one is a new coordinator, will they have his schemes down yet? UGA O line is a little subject early in the year, so if anyone has a hope of keeping UGA out of the SEC championship, USC and or UT had better take care of business. The O line will be awesome by mid season. My projected starting five has the potential to be awesome from the start (Sturdivant, Boling, Tripp, Vance and Davis(or Jones)).
GaGrad05 neither the O or the D took control of the game for 1st or 2nd string. Stafford made some good throws and then he threw what should have been a pick by Allen. Both the D and the O looked bad on that play. The D never really held in a critical down. The RB’s(our strong point) made the D look bad in crucial situations. However, the RB’s did most of the work themselves, the O line didn’t look great and I believe they gave up 7 sacks in a 32 minute game. The high points of the game were the WR and RB who all made good plays. However the WR did have 2 or 3 dropped balls. They were more consistent than in the past and I hope to see them continue to improve and where was the deep threat. Our longest throw of the day was an incomplete pass that was short armed by a receiver, so yes we looked O.K. With work, there is no doubt we can be great, but there is a lot of work to be done.
By Zeb McKluskey
April 7, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this
Hey “Friends of Paul Johnson”, you crazy kid, you’re just yankin our chain, ain’t ya? I agree with you. I think that with brand new coaches and a new offensive shceme, and with no Tenuta, you guys will probably go ahead and take it all. I see you guys going undefeated and beating USC or OSU by 40 points. Man, I wish we were even close to you guys in talent and coaching, but at least we can keep the Championship in state. With much, much smarter athletes, I can see that triple option beating teams 120-7. You’re really gonna rack up the points. No, no, no…don’t call me silly. I think you’re going to do to college football, THIS YEAR, what the DVD did to VHS. I think I just pi$$ed my pants a little thinking about having to play you guys. And trust me, I speak for the ENTIRE BULLDAWG NATION when I say we’re just going to forego the last game of the season and accept defeat, here, and now. We bow to you and ask for forgiveness from the great gold and white. I just threw away everything I own that has anything to do with UGA and will be going to Big Lots tomorrow and buy anything with GT on it. Jackets be PRAISED!!!!!
By FL DAWG
April 7, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this
Do I detect a hint of sarcasim from Zeb?
By paaaaatsy
April 7, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this
Dogs make sure they will not have to start with a Dfeet…they scheduled two cupcakes.
Zeb, you are a wise man!
By Gamecock Henry
April 7, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this
Hmmm …So much Work to be done for so much expectations. Problem is ,not much to work with in the Receiving Corps for Uga. Stafford is the most over hyped QB in College Football. Moreno is great , no doubt, better hope the injury bug will not bite him. Defenses now KNOW what to expect from him this year and will adjust accordingly.. Just ask CJ Spillers over at Clemson. Like the ole ball coached said, to reduce injuries is to get bigger and stronger in the weight room plus improve on technique. Seems Uga neeeds a new weight training coach. Been a lot of injuries during spring camp for the puppies. Fla Dawg…. Ellis Johnson said the Gamecocks are moving ahead well and picking up the schemes very well. Defenses usually pick up and move much faster than offenses when it comes to implementing new schemes. Dont Worry The Gamecocks will be ready for the Dawgs.
By Friends of Paul Johnson
April 7, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
Zeb…. Come on over! glad you leaving Red Neck U and seeing the light. First you need to cut the grass in front of your doublewide. You gotta get all of those empty beer cans out of yard too. Do this and this will help you have ah hmm.. curb appeal when trying to sale and getting a nice small down payment on your new Condo in Atlanta!
By Low Country Dawg
April 7, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this
Gamecock Henri- Oh, so the GAMECOCKS HAVE DISCOVERED WEIGHTLIFTING!!! Dave Van Halanger- our weigtlifting coach has an incredible reputation. The fact that you don’t know this(and weightlifting appears to be your described area of expertise)indicates your ignorance. Hey, Mr Henri- you may want to get some knowledge on re- cruitng-that’s kinda important too. If I’m not mistaken-SC has only had one top ten class in the 10 years. That won’t cut it big boy!!!!
By FL DAWG
April 7, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this
Ellis who?
By More National Hype
April 7, 2008 11:07 PM | Link to this
Chck out this Rivals article:
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=794484
By Gamecock Henry
April 7, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this
Low Country Dawg…Your top ten overated classes has won you how many NC? Yeah ok two SEC championships and thanks to the Gamecocks we helped Uga get to to title game to win, then Uga went to the Sugar and got embarrased by WVU. Van Halanger has been resting on his laurels since his Fla. States days. Heck Clemson is more Physical and athlectic these days than Uga. oh yeah… 16 - 12 and no TDS big boy at Sanford!!!
By Ross Marshall
April 8, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this
With the retuners from last year (forget hawaaii - should have been USC taking that beating) and one of the nations top recruiting classes. Expectations can be high and stay high for at least four years. Logan Gray, behind Stafford, looked almost as good and perhaps better at the same point. GO DAWGS!
By U of S Carolina has never ever won any Championship ever never
April 11, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
Henry,
Lets see UGA 2 SEC champioships, 2 Sugar Bowl Championships - what championships have the gamechickens won??? NOTHING ever.
UGA lost to WVirgina by 3 points hardly embarrasing.
Also Yea listen to the OBC - his team quit on him last year lost the last 6 games in a row - what is his record as USC anyway??? His team is really physical and they have great technique - for never winning anything ever - never and never will.
By Dawg Fud
April 11, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this
Typical Gamecock fan living vicariously through Clemson. Typical.
I am a Georgia alumnus but married into Clemson & So. Carolina families. It is quite humorous at family functions to watch the Clemson guys pick on the Gamecoks…however I wish they would show some SEC pride & stand up for themselves.
By U of S Carolina has never ever won any Championship ever never
April 11, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
Henry “Defenses now KNOW what to expect from him this year and will adjust accordingly.. Just ask CJ Spillers over at Clemson”.
You mean the CJ Spiller that had 16 carries for 91 yards and averaged 5.5 yards a carry in gamechickens embarrasing loss to Clemson last year.
Your right the OBC knows defense - as in how not to have a team play defense
By Festus
April 13, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
Id have to says losing to Waste Virginny is purddy embarassen , thait thare itty biddy staite skool. Ole Georgee got ther joacks fooled with thait thare trik plaiy.
By gatorsurfer
April 21, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
More National Hype…Check out this article… [http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/7961874/20-Questions:-Time-to-unveil-BCS-matchups ]
By Workinlkeadawg
April 21, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
My main concernis the 4 game road trip. Fl, Auburn, Tenn, and whoever. It’s the toughest schedule in college or pro ball. If the dawgs make it to the SEC championship, and win. Then CMR is going to be a NC coach. But that road trip…
By steven
April 26, 2008 7:11 AM | Link to this
Husker,
if i were you, i would keep quiet. nebraska football is no more relevant than high school soccer. georgia is on a high the last 8 years and has the most wins besides ohio state than any school in the country. all you haters that think uga fans are obnoxious because we get excited about our team (which is well deserved) can just get over it. if your teams won over 10 games a year for the last 7 seasons you would get excited too. i go on every school site and read the same beating of the chest for all teams from their fans from schools that havn’t accomplished much or anything. (see clemsux) Our shot at a title has come and i HOPE we can pull it out with hardest schedule in the country. that would make it even sweeter. so all you haters just keep hatin, we love it!! Go Dawgs!!!
By willbeezy
April 27, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this
Huskers are one of the worst teams in the country
By ncdawgfan23
April 28, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
You know when people like mr.Schultz are trying to come up with stupid scenarios about expectations ruining the dawgs. That means only one thing. That **This is the year!
** Go dawgs NC 08
By jimelyyes
May 2, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
there is the professional world of warcraft power leveling here. welcome.
By jimelyyes
May 8, 2008 4:56 AM | Link to this
there is the professional world of warcraft power leveling here. welcome.